Get well mum!!

On Tuesday, I decided to take the kiddies on a road trip to see Kesh and Tim, (my sis and her hubby) They live near my grandparents and I really wanted to see my Pa. So I loaded the kids in the car and took off on the 3 hour drive south. The kids were great in the car, they watched a dvd and we danced to Michael Jackson, and shared a box of shapes. And we were there!! Kesh and Tim just bought a new puppy, my kids were very excited to meet her. We had a delicious dinner cooked by Kesh, then Oli got a high temperature and the fun was over. I had a very sleepless night, getting up to Oli, and Sienna, and Landon.

The next morning Tim and Kesh took the kids to the beach and Oli and I stayed home, I had a quick visit with my Pa, then, feeling like I could not face another sleepless night, packed the car and headed off on the long drive back home. Tim and Kesh were also sick, most of my kids were sniffy and Dame was also at home sick in bed! When we finally arrived back at our house I was feeling sick myself, and I was wasted. I went to bed last night at 6:30pm, and was feeling very fluey. This morning I woke up to Laith bringing Dame and I  breakfast in bed. Waffles, cut up apple, nuts, and 2 codral tablets. He also brought dame and I a hot lemon drink. He had all the kids draw us pictures that said get well and he had made me a card that said "To a loving, caring mum. Its terrible you're so sick. You being sick reminds me of the times that we've been sick and you've taken care of us no matter what. Now...it's my turn to give back. I want you to stay in bed all day and give me a call if you need me. Take good care of dad. And good luck getting better! Love from Laith"

Seriously what did I do to deserve the perfect kid??!! He is so fantastic. I stayed in bed til about 10, and it was the best sick day of my life!!!

My Easter Bonnet!!

When I was 7, I was in a church play and we sang the song "Easter bonnet" I was a flower. I remember feeling miserable in my green ribbed tights, my green skivvy, and crepe paper flower mask. The boy I loved was 11, he wore a shirt and bow tie and got to have a girl in a beautiful dress, with a beautiful bonnet walk around him and sit on his knee! I wanted desperately to have a beautiful Easter bonnet!!

This year I got to make an Easter bonnet!! Sienna is still not old enough to be needing an Easter hat so instead I made one for my girlfriends daughter Paris! She looked and felt very special, as all girls should. I love making Easter hats. This year only Landon needed a hat in my family. So I got to get out some of my creativity on my friends kids, she has 6 kids, 5 of which needed hats. We had 11 kids at her house and less than 2 hours to make 6 hats!! We had a few hiccups caused by a broken stapler, and no sticky tape, but when you have lots of kids you get resourceful!!

I will post some pics of the hats as well as some of the hats I have made in the past!! I usually get my materials from newsagents or $2 shops. This year because I wanted Paris's hat to be extra special I went to feather.com.au They have some amazing feathers, and are worth a look, check them out!!

Labours of Love

Our eldest child turned 12 yesterday. I struggle to believe I have a 12 year old. I remember very clearly when I turned 12. It does not seem that long ago! On Thursday night I was up making cookies for Laith to take into school the next day. I did not go to bed until friday morning at 1:57am!! That means a lot of quiet thinking time, as I baked the cookies.

I thought back to that night 12years ago before he was born. I was nervous and excited to finally be meeting this baby I had carried inside me and felt moving for so long. I was enormous with Laith, I had pre-eclampsia, and looked like someone had put a pump in my mouth and pumped me up til I was about to explode! It was not pretty. I was excited to meet my baby and to see my ankles again!

I thought about my labour with Laith, which was HELL!! He was a forceps delivery, and that is all I will say about that. He was just over 9pounds and felt he like I was birthing a watermelon, not a baby! During the whole labour I was saying over and over " I am never doing this again!" "I am never doing this again!" Then as soon as they handed him to me, I was bawling like a baby and I said "I want to do this again!!" Everyone was laughing, but I was instantly in love. He was perfect. He was mine. I cannot express in words how overwhelmed I was with love in that instant. He was worth all that hard work and sacrifice and would be worth any other work or sacrifice I would be required to make throughout his life.

Laith is pretty much a perfect kid, he has always been incredibly mature and responsible. He is so aware and sensitive to the needs of others, he is passionate about the environment, the is completely dedicated to his studies, he is affectionate, thoughtful, and he loves to laugh. He is organised and passionate. He is such a great example to his siblings, and he is my friend.

I thought about those things, I thought about the times he will come and sit next to me on the couch and cuddle me. The mornings he hops into bed with me for a chat. The times he will ask what I need help with and then just go and do it. I thought about the people he chooses to be friends with, and that he has never ever been in trouble at school. I thought about all the awards he has won, and how he is not at all boastful! I thought about him awake on Australia Day morning making breakfast for our family! I felt really glad that I could be up til 2am making cookies, making his day special because he is such a special kid.

I am so blessed that I get to play a part in Laiths life. I know Laith is going to achieve great things in his life, he already has. I am his mum, I get to share in those highs, and comfort him in the lows, right now my opinion matters to him more than anyone. Labours of love like giving birth or making cookies at 2am, are more love, less labour! And being a mum really is something I love. Happy birthday Laith, I could not be more proud of you.